Huang Hao
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| Names | |
|---|---|
| Simplified Chinese: | 黄皓 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 黃皓 |
| Pinyin: | Huáng Hào |
| Wade-Giles: | Huang Hao |
| Zi: | None/Unknown |
Huang Hao was a eunuch serving Liu Shan, second and last emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms era in ancient China. Highly favoured by Liu Shan, he was commonly blamed for misguiding the latter into surrendering to the Kingdom of Wei.
Huang Hao entered the service of Liu Shan as a eunuch some time in the 220s. According to the Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms, Huang Hao was favoured by Liu Shan as he was shrewd and full of flattery words. While the chief attendant to the emperor Dong Yun (董允) was still alive, he often advised Liu Shan on the danger of flattery on one hand, and admonished Huang Hao for misguiding the young emperor on the other.
After Dong Yun died in 246, he was replaced by Chen Qi (陳祗), who collaborated with Huang Hao to influence court affairs. Henceforth Huang Hao became increasingly powerful. Even the senior ministers such as Zhuge Zhan and Dong Jue (董厥) could do nothing to remove him. The General-in-Chief Jiang Wei once advised Liu Shan to execute Huang Hao but the emperor denied the request, saying that the eunuch was but a servant who ran errands. Fearing retaliation, Jiang Wei then left the capital Chengdu to garrison troops at Tazhong (沓中, northwest of present day Zhouqu County, Gansu). As he had not achieved any significant gain over the Kingdom of Wei for years, Jiang Wei was also almost replaced by Yan Yu (閻宇), who had a close relationship with Huang Hao.
In 263, Jiang Wei wrote to Liu Shan, warning the latter about the mustering of Wei troops under Zhong Hui near the border. However, Huang Hao, who believed in witchery, told Liu Shan that the enemy would not eventually arrive. Liu Shan then neglected Jiang Wei's defense plans. When at last the Kingdom of Shu was conquered, Huang Hao was captured by Deng Ai, who intended to execute the treacherous man. But Huang Hao managed to bribe those close to Deng Ai and extricate himself. His fate henceforth was unknown (in Chapter 119 of the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms Huang Hao was eventually executed publicly at the order of Sima Zhao when he followed Liu Shan into the capital Luoyang.)
[edit] References
- Chen Shou (2002). San Guo Zhi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5.
- Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0.
- Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9.
